Explosive substance.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL BUDOLF JAHN, OF SGITLEBUSCH, NEAR COLOGNE. GEBMAI TY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF SPRENGSTOFF A.-G'r. GABBONIT, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE.

NoDrawing.-

in Explosive Substances, of which the following is a specification.

Hexanitro di-phenyl, the manufacture of which is indicated in the Reports 0 the German Society of Chemists, B. 34,21l:i by Ullmann and Bielecki, has been found, after tests which we have carried out, to be highly suitable as an explosive substance.

The hexanitro di-phcnyl has the followformula. of constitution:

No, No,

No, No2

It has the form of fine crystals of light yellow color. which have no detrimental ac- 'tion whatever on the skin, being neither corrosive nor coloring, in contradistinction t0 the majority of the nitro bodies hitherto in use, and in particular picric acid and hexanitro di-phenylamin, during the manufacure of which the workmen show signs of poisoning and eczema, which as is well known renders its manufacture very ditiicult and dangerous.

A further advantage over the aforesaid substances, resides in the fact that hexanitro di-phenyl has completely neutral properties, that is to say, does not acids or alkalis any kind of salt, whereas picric acid forms ready explosive pit-rates, as known when merely in contact with metals, and hexanitro di-phenylamin forms salts owing to its basic nature.

The hexanitro-di-phenyl is aperfectly stable body which is absolutely fixed and the manipulation and treatment of which can take place without any danger.

The hexanitro di-phenyl is quite insoluble in water, and slightly soluble .in alcohol, acetone, benzol, and toluol. The temperature of vaporization of this body is above 320 C. while its meltin point has been' In explosive power, hexanitro di-phenyl Specification of-Letters Patent.

form either with Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

Application filed December 15, 1913. SerialNo. 806,825.

is about 10% superior to the known hexanitro di-phenylamin. When tested in. a.

block of lead 50 grams of hexanitro diphenyl produced a cavity of 1810 cubic centlmeters, whereas hexanitro di-phenylamin produced a cavity of 1630 cubic centimeters. When compared with picricacid the difference in favor of hexanitro di-phenyl is still greater.

The properties above referred to make it highly suitable for use as an explosive substance by itself or in combination with other compounds, for instance, as a filling for grenades, torpedoes and mines, as well as for the manufacture of primers and detonators, and also for all purposes for which explosive substances are used.

Hexanitro di--phenyl is used in grenades, torpedoes and mines in a compressed state; it is readily susceptible to compression and under a pressure of 2500 atmospheres it attains a density of approximately 1.61. The detonation is produced by a primer No. 8 with a filling of 2 grams of fulminate of mercury, or any other suitable primer may be used.

It is also suitable for use as an igniter, as it readily transmits the initiated detonation to other explosive substances which are detonated with dilliculty. For filling primers, hexanitro-di-phenyl is used in combination with fulminate of mercury or with trinitrid of lead.

For compound explosive substances, hexa nitro di-phenyl may be used in all cases where other aromatic uitro bodies such as trinitrotoluol are used.

The explosive douarit, having the composition:

Nitroglycerin 4% Trinitrotoluol 12% Ammonium nitrate 80% Flour 4% produces for example, when hexanitro diphenyl is used instead of trinitrotoluol, a cavity greater by 20 cubic centimeters. when tested in a block of lead.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A mixture containing nitroglycerin, hexa-nitro-di-phenyl, ammonium nitrate and flour.

cerin, 12% hexa nitro-di-phenyl, 80% ammonium nitrate and 4% of flour.

3. An explosive mixture containing hexa- 5 nitro-di-phenyl', an oxidizing salt, and a carbonaceous fuel.

4. An explosive mixture containing hexanitro-di-phenyl, an oxidizing salt, a carboneceous fuel and a nitric aliphatic body.

10 5. An BXiflOSiVE) mixture comprising hexanitro-di-phenyi, an oxidizing salt capable of burning ithout leaving any material amount of ash, and an organic fuel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL RUDOLF JAHN.

Witnesses:

Lonis VANDORN, OSCAR DEPNER. 

